Advertisement · 728 × 90

Posts by Give a Book

Post image

We're thrilled to have Simon Callow as an ambassador.

You can catch the prolific actor, director and author in the new film A Man With a Plan and in season two of Bookish.

Thank you, Simon, for supporting our work.

#BooksChangeLives #NationalYearOfReading #Charity

23 hours ago 1 0 0 0
Post image

We're very grateful to have Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as an ambassador.

The British-Iranian activist is currently living in London with her daughter and husband, Richard. A Year of Sky, Nazanin's and Richard Ratcliffe's memoir, is due to be published in September.

#CharityTuesday #Charity

1 week ago 0 0 0 0
Post image

We're very proud to have multi-award-winning author Ali Smith as an ambassador.

Ali shares our philosophy that you can 'give a book and change a life'. Thank you, Ali, for your support.

#CharityTuesday #AliSmith #BooksChangeLives #GoAllIn #NationalYearOfReading

3 weeks ago 1 1 0 0
Our ambassadors

Akin Alleyne

'Give a Book doesn’t just provide reading material. They provide hope, dignity, and real possibility for change.'

Our ambassadors Akin Alleyne 'Give a Book doesn’t just provide reading material. They provide hope, dignity, and real possibility for change.'

Akin Alleyne, Operational Governor at HM Prison and Probation Service, is a Give a Book ambassador.

Akin said: 'A book can shift the atmosphere of a wing, spark reflection, and remind someone that they still have a future worth investing in.'

#CharityTuesday #Charity #NationalYearOfReading

4 weeks ago 2 2 0 0
Post image

Freddie Fox is a Give A Book ambassador 🎉

"The pleasure and imaginative release of reading is fundamental to us all, and especially for those experiencing the harsh environment of prison."

Watch Freddie in House of the Dragon, Slow Horses, and the upcoming Blade Runner 2099.

#FreddieFox #Charity

1 month ago 1 1 0 0
Post image

Today (16 March) is Lithuanian #BookSmugglingDay, marking the birthday of Jurgis Bielinis, the 'King of the Book Smugglers'.

During the 19th-century Russian occupation, Lithuanian books were banned. Knygnešiai risked their lives to smuggle 5 million books to preserve their language and culture.

1 month ago 2 0 0 0
Video

It's Feedback Friday and we're looking back to #WorldBookDay last week.

Our prison consultant, David Kendall, World Book Day UK and publishers send books to every prison in the country. In total, over 20,000 books are sent.

They are for children visiting parents and family members.

#GiveABook

1 month ago 3 1 0 0
Photo of Toby Stevens.
Text reads: Our ambassadors
Topby Stevens
Reading, alone or as a group activity, can help inmates express themselves better and expand themselves.

Photo of Toby Stevens. Text reads: Our ambassadors Topby Stevens Reading, alone or as a group activity, can help inmates express themselves better and expand themselves.

Announcing Toby Stephens as a Give a Book ambassador!

The actor has supported us for many years, sharing our mission to get everyone reading, even in the most challenging circumstances.

Watch Toby in #BlackSails on @itvx.com. See him in Equus in London and Bath.

#CharityTuesday #TobyStephens

1 month ago 2 0 0 0
Video

Every #WorldBookDay, something very special happens...

David Kendall, our prison consultant, sends World Book Day books to every prison in the country. They are for children visiting parents and family members.

Thanks to World Book Day UK and publishers 20,000 books are given to prisons each year.

1 month ago 1 0 0 0
Photo of Kit De Waal
Text reads: Our ambassadors, Kit de Waal, Kit's debut novel, the international bestseller My Name is Leon, features in our short film.

Photo of Kit De Waal Text reads: Our ambassadors, Kit de Waal, Kit's debut novel, the international bestseller My Name is Leon, features in our short film.

We're very grateful for the support we have. Our long-standing patron is Lady Antonia Fraser, and we have seven new ambassadors.

First up, we're welcoming Kit de Waal, award-winning writer, professor and the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction chair. Thank you, Kit.

#CharityTuesday #WorldBookDay

1 month ago 2 0 0 0
Advertisement
Post image

📖 Book of the Month is chosen by Kenny Imafidon MBE.

Kenny wrote That Peckham Boy and is also a journalist and the co-founder of research company ClearView Research.

Boundaries is Kenny's book choice. Find out why: https://bit.ly/4aHxI6X

#BookOfTheMonth #ReadingForPleasure

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
Post image

Ahead of International #BookGivingDay (also Valentine’s Day) we’re sharing our heartfelt thanks ❤️📚

We’re so grateful to the generous people who make our work possible - especially Penguin Random House, Hachette and @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social. You helped us give 40,000 books in 2025.

#GiveABook

2 months ago 2 1 0 1
Video

Happy New Year!

We're thrilled about what 2026 and the National Year of Reading have in store. A powerful coalition of reading charities will champion reading for everyone, everywhere. We're definitely 'Going All In' with our focus on reaching schools, prisons and disadvantaged children.

#GoAllIn

3 months ago 4 0 0 0
Video

Christmas Eve in Iceland is the culmination of Jólabókaflód, the Yule Book Flood. Books are exchanged as gifts and the evening spent cosy with a new story.

Read our reviews of our chosen books: https://bit.ly/3Y3DhGS

Wishing you a happy Jólabókaflód and Merry Christmas 🎁📚

#ReadingForPleasure

3 months ago 1 0 0 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

We're continuing our homage to Jólabókaflód, the Icelandic tradition of giving and reading books on Christmas Eve.

Here are more of the books the Give a Book team will be gifting this festive season.

For longer and other recommendations, read our blog: bit.ly/3Y3DhGS

#ReadingForPleasure

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
Post image Post image Post image

Jólabókaflód is the Icelandic tradition close to our hearts. On Christmas Eve, Icelanders spend the evening gifting books.

In the run-up to Christmas, we'll be sharing some of the books we'll be giving this festive season.

For more reviews, read our blog: bit.ly/3Y3DhGS

#ReadingForPleasure

4 months ago 0 0 0 0
Post image

A big thank you to the Primrose Hill Community Library 💛

The library has generously donated books for our Books for First Nighters project.

#PrisonReadingGroups #PrisonReform #LibrariesMatter #Libraries

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
Advertisement
Cover of 'The Man Who Planted Trees' by Jean Giono featuring a green landscape with trees and a winding path under a bright sun. Picture of James Reed CBE. 
Text reads: Book of the Month
'A beautiful book about nature and our place in the world, and it is especialy relevant today'.

Cover of 'The Man Who Planted Trees' by Jean Giono featuring a green landscape with trees and a winding path under a bright sun. Picture of James Reed CBE. Text reads: Book of the Month 'A beautiful book about nature and our place in the world, and it is especialy relevant today'.

December's #BookOfTheMonth is The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono.

It's chosen by James Reed CBE, Chairman & CEO of Reed, Britain’s biggest recruitment brand, and Chair of Trustees for Big Give.

Buy on our page on Bookshop.org: https://ow.ly/2Q2K50XJEEs and we'll receive 10% of the proceeds ❤️

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
Preview
Library card plan to help write newborns’ first chapter | The Observer

Philip Pullman, Richard Osman, @joannechocolat.bsky.social & @katemossewriter.bsky.social are some of the authors calling for library membership to be linked to birth registration.

This is a subject very close to our hearts. Read more in @theobserveruk.bsky.social by @vanessathorpe.bsky.social

4 months ago 30 11 0 1
Preview
'Dame Maggie Smith's son says he's inherited this 1 passion from her' As he backs a Christmas appeal to send books into prisons, Toby Stephens on the moving public response to his mother Dame Maggie Smith's passing

A huge thank you to our ambassador Toby Stephens and the Daily Express' Matt Nixson for this wonderful article, which highlights our work in prisons.

The Big Give has come to a close, but we are still fundraising on our website: giveabook.org.uk/make-a-donat...

#Charity #ReadingForPleasure

4 months ago 0 1 0 0
Thank you so much £15,000 raised Target reached

Thank you so much £15,000 raised Target reached

🎉 We did it! Thanks to your amazing generosity, we hit our £15,000 target. Huge thanks to Reed Educational Trust for match funding donations & to @biggive.bsky.social

We’re still raising funds for our prison reading groups, so please share, donate, or tag a friend to match your gift.

Thank you 💛

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
Post image

📚📖📘 Make double the difference this week!

Until midday 9th of December, all donations made via Big Give will be doubled thanks to matched funding!

🔗 Donate and make double the difference today: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005e9XxYAI

@biggive.bsky.social‬ #BigGive

4 months ago 0 0 0 0
Video

One donation - double the impact.

📚 This week... £6 gives TWO books to people who really need them! 📚

🔗 Click here to donate and make double the difference today: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005e9XxYAI

Thank you to Reed Educational Trust Limited 🙏

Big Give‬ #BigGive

4 months ago 0 0 0 0

Wow! Thank you for your support for charities like us!

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
Post image

The time has come! It's Giving Tuesday and Big Give's Christmas Challenge is officially LIVE! 🕰️🌟

Until noon 9th December, all donations via Big Give will be doubled. Get more from your giving today!

🔗 Click here to donate: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005e9XxYAI

Big Give #BigGive

4 months ago 2 0 0 0
Post image

⏳24 hours to go!
Tomorrow - Tues 2 Dec, 12pm - the Big Give Christmas Challenge goes live!

Donate via Big Give and your support will be doubled! Get more from your giving! 📚

👉 Click here to learn more: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005e9XxYAI

Big Give #BigGive

4 months ago 2 0 0 0
Post image

Happy Sunday from Give a Book!

🎄 The Big Give Christmas Challenge goes live in 48 hours! All donations will be DOUBLED during the week - bringing books and the pleasure of reading to the hardest places.

🔗 Find out more: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005e9XxYAI

Big Give‬ #BigGive

4 months ago 3 0 0 0
Advertisement
Post image

From 2 – 9 Dec, donations to Give a Book will be DOUBLED during Big Give's Christmas Challenge!

Donations will support our prison reading groups, which promote connection through reading.

Reed Educational Trust Limited 🙏

https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005e9XxYAI

Big Give #BigGive

4 months ago 2 0 0 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

📚 Support reading in prison during Big Give’s Christmas Challenge!

From 2–9 Dec, any donation via Big Give will be doubled!

📽️ Watch Give A Book's film with @Media_Trust to see how our prison reading groups create solace and connection: https://vimeo.com/1033447319?fl=pl&fe=vl

Big Give #BigGive

4 months ago 0 0 0 0
Post image

🎁 Big Give's Christmas Challenge is going live just next week!

Access to reading changes lives for the better. ❤️

🔗 Click here to find out more about our Big Give campaign: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005e9XxYAI

Reed Educational Trust Limited 🙏

Big Give #BigGive

4 months ago 2 0 0 0